Haryana CM Bhupinder Hooda booed by pro-Modi crowds in PM's presence

Haryana CM Bhupinder Hooda was on Tuesday left red-faced as a hostile crowd hooted him at a function in PM Narendra Modi's presence, following which the angry Congress leader said he would boycott such events with the PM

Kaithal, Haryana: Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today faced some embarrassing moments when the crowds which had gathered here on the occasion of a foundation stone laying of a highway by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raised slogans against the Congress leader and hooted him.

After Union Minister of State for Transport, Krishan Pal Gurjar and Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had spoken, Hooda faced hooting from the crowds, which also raised slogans against him and the Congress government.

As Hooda hurriedly continued to read out from his prepared speech, Modi, who reached here in the afternoon by a helicopter, waved to the crowds urging them to maintain composure. However, the crowds were in no mood to pay heed and continued to interrupt the chief minister during his speech, which was completely inaudible.

Later, a fuming Chief Minister blamed BJP for the incident. Speaking to reporters, Hooda said that the BJP "has not done a right thing" with him. "I will not participate in any such function of the Prime Minister in future," he said. Hooda said that it was an official function and the BJP has violated the "sanctity" of the occasion and added he will stay away from such events in future.

Amid hot and sultry weather conditions, the police and other security personnel faced tough time to control the crowds, which captured the media enclosure as Modi began his speech after laying the foundation stone of the highway project by pressing a button on the remote.

Besides Hooda, the other Congress leader present at the function was Haryana PWD (Bridge & Roads) Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala. Notably, a number of BJP leaders from the state including many party MPs from Haryana, besides Birender Singh, who recently joined the saffron party after deserting Congress, were also present on the occasion.